The gathering solstice

[randy_byers]

It seemed to me that a lot more people had already staked out places along the parade route as I made my way to Roxy's Diner this morning at 8am than had done so by the same time last year. The guys who had hauled six couches down to the curbside looked like they had camped on the couches overnight. Yes, it's time for the annual Fremont Solstice Parade (NSFW). An air of happy anticipation is building in the neighborhood. One guy I passed gave me the Hawai'ian shaka sign and said, "Aloha!" Roxy's was already humming with business, and I told the waitresses that I would pray for them. It's going to be a crazy day there at the heart of the storm.

Meanwhile, I'm printing the cover for AmaZed and CorfluZed #4, the Corflu Zed regress report. The plan is to mail paper copies to every member of the convention, including supporting and one-day members. Once the paper is mailed out, the PDF will go up on efanzines.com. I'm really pleased with the zine, which is a good memorial to the convention. I'll post a notice here when the PDF goes up.

It rained hard yesterday evening, but the sun is peeking out now. Maybe it won't rain on the solstice parade. Time to pick some raspberries!

Update: Drums in the distance. The natives are restless.

Comments

[mlamprey.livejournal.com]

We stopped going to these...so much traffic, impossible to park, and the final straw was that the DOT always choose this weekend to close the 520 Bridge...it's like a deliberate deterrent for Eastsiders. One year we headed over in our parade attire, left late, found the bridge detour would have added an hour to our lateness, and ended up at Home Depot instead.

[kim-huett.livejournal.com]

Which reminds me, were all the copies of the Corflu Zed anthologies posted out? Have been meaning to ask because to date I've not received mine.

[trinfaneb.livejournal.com]

I found some interesting pics on google image search. Didn't realize that nude body art parades had spread to Rain City. I'm guessing that you heard Queen's "Fat bottomed Girls/Bicycle Race" at some point? :)

Does anyone make a big deal about the nudity in the parade? I remember the uproar caused after a radio station dj on River Street encouraged girls to take off their tops in exchange for tee-shirts on a St. Patrick's Day in Savannah in the early 80s. I haven't been to that parade in almost two decades, but from what I hear the city still keeps a reasonably tight light on things like that, that could potentially upset conservative tourist types.